-
97
/ 100
Wine Enthusiast -
95
/ 100
White
Classification
Semillon
Variety
2016
Vintage
750ml (Bottle)
Bottle Size
Australia
Country
New South Wales, Hunter Valley
Region
11.0%
Alcohol %
15 Plus Years
Cellaring
Scores
97 / 100"2016 wasn't hailed as a particularly great vintage, but, seven years in, this wine, from the historic winery's best old blocks, is singing. A heady, layered perfume of citrus pith, dried herb, beeswax, wool, flint and orchard blossom leads to a palate that's uniquely textured, like chalk dust swirled into melted wax and lifted by mouthwatering acidity. Bright, prickly lemon peel lingers on the long, slippery finish. Both delicate and powerful, it drinks beautifully now, but also has a long life ahead."
- Wine Enthusiast
95 / 100
"The business of describing, and rating baby Hunter Semillon is an interesting task. The wines are barely formed, and the descriptions of flavours do not exactly leap out of the glass, nor cause a flurry of typing. What I’m looking for, I guess, are the following fundamental things – balance, line and length, and no off flavours. If those are right, then the rest will follow. Oh, and maybe a bit of X-Factor too. Fresh lime and lemon, a whiff of white peach, subtle white flower perfume. Light and fine, almost a vanilla fragrance in the mouth, crunch of ripe citrus, a little chalky texture, and then the big ticket item – a superb long finish – replete with latent flavour and power. Vat 1 delivers again."
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Tasting Notes
Vat 1 Semillon only ever comes from our best old vine, dry grown vineyards. These blocks feature ideal sandy, free draining soils that give these wines their unique character. The oldest of these blocks was planted in 1923. Hand picked in the early hours of the morning, the fruit is very lightly crushed and pressed before a relatively cool fermentation. Then the wine spent minimal time on yeast lees before being bottled early to maintain its freshness. No oak fermentation or maturation. The 2016 growing season was one that started with great promise with our wettest winter in nearly a decade. Perfect conditions for budburst and flowering were followed by an unsettled summer consisting of hot days and wild storms. Luckily, these weather patterns calmed down into one of the driest February’s on record.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity